Technique for providing ancillary information to an entity in a communications network

Abstract

A technique for providing ancillary information relative to an entity's location to the entity using a host configuration protocol. An entity generates a request containing an option that specifies the ancillary information relative to the entity's location that is sought. The request is forwarded to a server in accordance with the host configuration protocol. The server processes the request including identifying the requested information, generates a response and places the identified information in the response. The server then forwards the response to the entity in accordance with the host configuration protocol. The entity receives the response and processes it, accordingly.

1 . A method for providing ancillary information to an entity in a communication network wherein the ancillary information is relative to the entity's location, the method comprising: 
 generating a request;    forwarding the request to a server using a host configuration protocol; and    receiving a response from the server via the host configuration protocol wherein the response contains the ancillary information relative to the entity's location.    
   
   
       2 . A method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the response contains an option that specifies the ancillary information.  
   
   
       3 . A method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the host configuration protocol is the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).  
   
   
       4 . A method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the ancillary information is information associated with a Public Safety Access Point (PSAP).  
   
   
       5 . A method as defined in  claim 4  wherein the ancillary information is a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) that is associated with the PSAP.  
   
   
       6 . A method as defined in  claim 1  wherein the entity's location is a geographic location.  
   
   
       7 . A method for providing ancillary information to an entity in a communication network wherein the ancillary information is relative to the entity's location, the method comprising: 
 receiving a request from an entity via a host configuration protocol;    locating ancillary information relative to the entity's location;    generating a response wherein the response has an option containing the ancillary information; and    forwarding the response to the entity using the host configuration protocol.    
   
   
       8 . A method as defined in  claim 7  wherein the request contains an option that specifies what ancillary information is sought by the entity.  
   
   
       9 . A method as defined in  claim 10  wherein the host configuration protocol is the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).  
   
   
       10 . A communication unit for acquiring ancillary information relative to an entity's location, the communication unit comprising: 
 a memory; and    a processor coupled to the memory, the processor configured to: 
 (a) generate a request,  
 (b) forward the request to a server using a host configuration protocol, and  
 (c) receive a response from the server via the host configuration protocol wherein the response contains the ancillary information relative to the entity's location.  
   
   
   
       11 . A communication unit as defined in  claim 10  wherein the processor is further configured to store the ancillary information in the memory.  
   
   
       12 . A communication unit as defined in  claim 10  wherein the response contains an option that specifies the ancillary information.  
   
   
       13 . A communication unit as defined in  claim 10  wherein the host configuration protocol is the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).  
   
   
       14 . A communication unit as defined in  claim 10  wherein the ancillary information is information associated with a Public Safety Access Point (PSAP).  
   
   
       15 . A communication unit as defined in  claim 14  wherein the ancillary information is a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) that is associated with the PSAP.  
   
   
       16 . A node in a communications network for providing ancillary information relative to an entity's location to the entity, the node comprising: 
 a network interface configured to receive a request from the entity via a host configuration protocol; and    a processor coupled to the network interface, the processor configured to: 
 (a) generate a response wherein the response contains the ancillary information, and  
 (b) forward the response to the entity using the host configuration protocol.  
   
   
   
       17 . A node as defined in  claim 16  wherein the response contains an option that specifies the ancillary information.  
   
   
       18 . A node as defined in  claim 16  wherein the host configuration protocol is the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).  
   
   
       19 . A node as defined in  claim 16  wherein the ancillary information is information associated with a Public Safety Access Point (PSAP).  
   
   
       20 . A node as defined in  claim 19  wherein the ancillary information is a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) that is associated with the PSAP.  
   
   
       21 . In a communication network, an apparatus for providing ancillary information relative to an entity's location to the entity, the apparatus comprising: 
 means for receiving a request from an entity via a host configuration protocol;    means for generating a response wherein the response has contains the ancillary information; and    means for forwarding the response to the entity using the host configuration protocol.    
   
   
       22 . In a communication network, a system for providing ancillary information relative to an entity's location to the entity, the system comprising: 
 an entity configured to: 
 (a) generate a request,  
 (b) forward the request to a server using a host configuration protocol, and  
 (c) receive a response from the server via the host configuration protocol wherein the response contains the ancillary information relative to the entity's location; and  
   a node configured to: 
 (a) receive a request from an entity via a host configuration protocol,  
 (b) generate a response wherein the response contains the ancillary information, and  
 (c) forward the response to the entity using the host configuration protocol.